A host of New York City officials, including Taxi & Limousine Commissioner David Yassky (and of course, our publisher — see above) were among the first to preview the interior design planned for the Nissan NV200 Taxi, New York City’s exclusive ‘Taxi of Tomorrow,’ at the Nissan ‘Taxi of Tomorrow’ Design Expo. The exhibit will be open to the public Nov. 1-5 and features an interactive display that allows New Yorkers to fully experience new and unique taxi features developed for – and with – New Yorkers.

The NV200 Taxi design reflects the input of hundreds of taxi owners and drivers, and thousands of passengers from all walks of life, who shared their ideas and priorities with Nissan designers and engineers. It also reflects ongoing collaboration with organizations long at the forefront of the ‘Taxi of Tomorrow’ program, including the Design Trust for Public Space and the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. Interior features planned for the NV200 Taxi include*:
Spacious cargo area to accommodate luggage for four passengers
A transparent roof panel to provide unique views of the city
Sliding doors with entry step and grab handles for easy entry and exit
USB charging access for passengers
Independent, passenger controlled rear-seat heat/air conditioning with a grape phenol-coated air filter to improve cabin air quality
Flat floor – with no hump
Enhanced interior materials intended to help passenger cabin smell fresher
Breathable, anti-microbial, easy-to-clean and environmentally friendly seat upholstery

“Over the past century, New York City’s taxis have become known around the world for iconic exterior styling,” said Joe Castelli, vice president, Nissan Fleet & Commercial Vehicles. “Now, with the NV200 Taxi, Nissan is bringing iconic design inside the taxi, while improving the comfort and safety of passengers and drivers. We’re committed to sustaining the New York City taxi’s heritage while meeting the modern needs of 600,000 passengers every day, and we’re looking forward to hearing New Yorkers’ feedback after they sit in this display property and fully experience the vehicle’s many first-of-a-kind features and amenities.”

The Nissan ‘Taxi of Tomorrow’ Design Expo is located on the pedestrian plaza across from the Flatiron building at Broadway and Fifth Avenue, and will be open to the public on Tuesday, Nov. 1, noon-9 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 2 through Friday, Nov. 4, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.; and, Saturday, Nov. 5, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

To celebrate the exhibit’s public opening, the host of the Discovery Channel’s Cash Cab game show television series, Ben Bailey, will host a special social media edition of the trivia program, with New York online influencers as contestants, live from the Design Expo site. Blogger contestants who demonstrate mastery of taxi trivia, including details about Nissan’s NV200 Taxi, will accrue donations for a local charity of their choice. Additionally, Nissan’s social media fans on Twitter and Facebook will compete for a taxi prize pack as Ben challenges them with trivia questions via video.

“I’m excited to participate with Nissan in such a fun, social program to get the word out about New York City’s Taxi of Tomorrow,” said Bailey. “As a licensed NYC cab driver, I’m looking forward to the improved comfort and safety the NV200 Taxi will offer both myself and the passengers.”

The ‘Taxi of Tomorrow’ project began in 2007 as an initiative to establish the vision for a next-generation New York City taxicab. Following a rigorous evaluation process, Nissan’s NV200 Taxi was selected in May 2011 as New York City’s exclusive ‘Taxi of Tomorrow’ beginning in late 2013. Following that announcement, Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution and the Design Trust for Public Space have engaged with Nissan and the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission in the vehicle’s design and development.

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